What is the name of the NHL team based in Raleigh, North Carolina?

The NHL team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the Carolina Hurricanes.

The franchise began in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association. After the WHA–NHL merger in 1979, it became the Hartford Whalers. The organization relocated to North Carolina in 1997 and adopted the Carolina Hurricanes name, reflecting the region’s vulnerability to Atlantic hurricanes.

The Hurricanes initially played home games in Greensboro while their Raleigh arena was completed. They now play at Lenovo Center in Raleigh and compete in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, specifically the Metropolitan Division. Their most significant championship came in 2006, when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup.

The team is sometimes confused with the Florida Panthers, another southeastern NHL club, or with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. The Hurricanes are the professional ice hockey team representing North Carolina. Their franchise history also means that references to the Hartford Whalers describe the same organization before its move south.